Creamy Cajun Chicken Shells
A rich, comforting dish featuring jumbo pasta shells stuffed with spiced chicken and cheese, baked in a creamy Cajun sauce. Perfect for family dinners or entertaining.
Ingredients
Main:
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sauce:
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta shells until al dente. Rinse and set aside.
- Sauté onion and pepper in olive oil; add garlic and seasonings. Mix in chicken and let cool.
- Stir in ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan to form filling.
- Make sauce: melt butter, add flour, whisk in milk/cream until thickened. Season.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Pour half the sauce in a greased baking dish.
- Stuff shells with filling and place in dish. Pour remaining sauce on top.
- Cover with foil; bake 25 minutes. Remove foil, bake another 10–15 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for ease.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning for spice level.
- Can be made gluten-free with substitutions.
- Add sautéed spinach or mushrooms for extra veggies.
- Freezes well before or after baking.